ANKARA 

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed Friday the importance of preventing “lasting hostilities” amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Fidan told the A Haber news channel that Türkiye’s objective from the very beginning has been to prevent the war, stop it if it starts, prevent its spread, and keep Türkiye out of it.

“Our number one goal is to stop the war. At the same time, it is important that it does not expand further. It is crucial that it does not spill over into other countries and does not create lasting hostilities and instability in the region. Hopefully, it will end one way or another,” he said.

He stressed that hostility between countries can last for years after wars, preventing cooperation, development and prosperity, saying that “all our efforts are aimed at preventing” the war.

He said other actors also recognize the threats posed by the war and noted that negotiations to end the conflict have begun.

“There seems to be some progress in negotiations. At least talks have started. Messages are being conveyed via Pakistan. The Americans are coordinating this with us, and we are informing the Iranians,” said Fidan.

He added that there is strong international demand for negotiations, but stressed that this expectation must be translated into concrete action, noting that Türkiye is making every effort in that direction.

Fidan said diplomatic traffic has intensified significantly since the early stages of the crisis, with counterparts from Europe, Russia, China and other Asian countries frequently contacting Türkiye to both understand developments and explore ways to stop the war.

He pointed out that the attacks by the US and Israel against Iran have very serious, destructive effects, regionally and globally, warning that the “war initiated unlawfully by the US and Israel, in violation of international law, is increasingly facing the danger of regional expansion.”

Fidan said current negotiation positions differ from pre-war positions, noting that destruction in Iran has changed expectations. That makes mediation harder, but he expressed hope that efforts will continue.

He highlighted Pakistan’s central role and said he is in frequent contact with Egyptian, European, and regional counterparts.

Meeting among Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

Fidan hinted at a planned meeting among Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia that may take place in Pakistan during the weekend to assess negotiations and possible actions.

He warned of “Israeli expansionism,” sowing seeds of discord in the region, adding that Türkiye’s number one goal is “first and foremost, to prevent this discord from emerging.”

Fidan said all sides appear willing to achieve peace except Israel, which continues to exert structural influence on US politics and pursue its own regional calculations. “The biggest obstacle to peace right now is Israel’s stance,” he said.

Fidan said several Gulf countries have been targeted by Iranian missiles and drones. Türkiye has advised restraint, warning that reactions could lead to long-term consequences and play into Israel’s desired scenario of prolonged conflict among Islamic countries.

He said discussions in Riyadh focused on countries attacked by Iran, but Türkiye emphasized that those attacks are part of a broader picture triggered by US and Israeli actions, while maintaining that such attacks should not occur.

Fidan warned that the conflict has already had a broader global effect, saying the US-Israel-Iran war in its third week, has had more significant effects than the Russia-Ukraine war, despite its longer duration.

He stressed that military escalation before meaningful progress in the ceasefire and peace talks could make the situation irreversible and significantly alter the balance at the negotiation table.

He also underlined that Türkiye’s policy prioritizes cooperation over domination, emphasizing transparent, inclusive approaches that benefit all regional actors rather than coercive methods.

Gaza depopulation

On Gaza, Fidan warned that the primary danger is the depopulation of the enclave, stressing that preventing Gaza from being left without its Palestinian population remains a key priority for Türkiye.

He said humanitarian issues such as aid delivery, shelter and border crossings remain central to diplomatic efforts and that Gaza continues to be a constant item on Türkiye’s agenda.

Fidan noted that regional actors, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Jordan, are simultaneously facing overlapping crises, as he warned them against steps that could ease pressure on Israel or divert attention from key conflict zones.

He also pointed to growing risks of sectarian escalation, noting that involvement of armed groups in Iraq and missile activity across the region could trigger wider confrontations if not contained quickly.

Fidan said Türkiye is engaging with a wide range of actors, including regional leaders and non-state groups, to prevent the conflict from spreading into a broader sectarian war.

Strait of Hormuz

He stressed that the Strait of Hormuz, carrying around 20% of global energy flows, remains a critical chokepoint and warned that any disruption would have far-reaching consequences for global trade, energy prices and food supply chains.

Fidan said some proposals are being discussed to ensure safe maritime passage, including possible arrangements that could allow certain flagged vessels, including Turkish ships, to benefit from transit guarantees.

He added that rising energy and logistics costs are already affecting economies, with countries trying to avoid triggering long-term market panic despite growing pressure on industrial production and consumer prices.

He highlighted Türkiye’s emerging role as a key energy and logistics hub, noting that alternative routes through Türkiye are gaining importance as global supply chains adapt to the crisis.

Fidan also warned against the exploitation of ethnic groups in the region, saying Türkiye closely monitors attempts to manipulate Kurdish communities in Iran and opposes any efforts to use the groups to fuel instability.

He said Türkiye’s position is clear: it will neither allow the oppression of regional populations nor permit their exploitation by external actors for destabilizing purposes.

Fidan reiterated that Türkiye envisions a broader regional framework based on cooperation among countries, including Iran, Gulf states, Türkiye, Pakistan and Egypt, which could generate significant economic, political and security benefits, if realized.

*Writing by Berk Kutay Gokmen and Merve Berker